Evaluation of dynamic compliance of lungs and disturbances of breathing mechanics in patients following laryngectomy for carcinoma of the larynx. The purpose of study was to observe changes which may develop in the mechanics of breathing following laryngectomy in patients with carcinoma of the larynx as compared with the pre-operative conditions. The studies were carried out on a group of 29 patients, performing the measurements twice, i.e. before operation and after laryngectomy and tracheostomy. The measurements were done using a Godart Compliance-Test type 121 apparatus. The value of the coefficient of dynamic compliance of the lungs was determined together with the magnitude and type of work necessary to overcome respiratory resistance. It was found that after the operation the coefficient of dynamic compliance of the lungs increased by 63.7% while the total work of breathing decreased by 38.7% and the work necessary to overcome the elastic resistance of the lungs fell by 33.7% and that for overcoming the non-elastic resistance fell by 49.3%. The most significant changes in breathing mechanics observed after the operation concerned the ratio or breathing work necessary to overcome the non-elastic resistance to the total breathing work. This ratio was 43.35% pre-operatively and 34.11% post-operatively. The obtained results suggest that impairment of laryngeal patency caused by the tumour raises the breathing work and reduces the coefficient of dynamic compliance of the lungs due mainly to an increased non-elastic breathing resistance.


Observations on the effects of drugs used in general anaesthesia for ear operations on renal functions. The purpose of this study was: 1) to observe the renal effects of atropine and pethidine administered intravenously in premedication, 2) to assess the renal effects of diethyl ether and halothane, 3) to study the effects of respiration on the renal functions in general anaesthesia and 4) to evaluate the antidiuretic action of Octapressin used for infiltration of the field of operation during anaesthesia. The studies on the renal effects of the drugs used in premedication were carried out on 27 patients. The renal effects of general anaesthesia and operation on renal functions were studied in 20 patients divided into 2 groups. Group I comprised of patients under diethyl ether anaesthesia while in group II halothane was used. In both groups subgroups A and B were isolated depending on the type of respiration applied during general anaesthesia (subgroup A -- manually assisted respiration, subgroup B -- spontaneous respiration). In all patients in groups I and II Octapressin was used for infiltration of the field of operation. Its renal effects were assessed on the results of determinations in 5 cases (subgroup II-A) anaesthetized with halothane and receiving manually assisted respiration. These results were compared with those in group III which comprised of 5 patients anaesthetized with halothane who were not given Octapressin infiltrations. The following conclusions have been drawn from these results: 1) Atropine and pethidine administered intravenously in therapeutic doses significantly reduce glomerular filtration. 2) Changes in renal functions observed during general anaesthesia and operation were the result of ADH secretion stimulation and changes in renal haemodynamics. 3) No differences were observed between the renal effects of diethyl ether and halothane which was due, probably, to compensatory renal mechanisms regulating renal circulation and osmotic equilibrium in the organism. 4) No differences were observed also in the renal effects of various method of ventilation used during anaesthesia. 5) Octapressin used in therapeutic doses for infiltration of the operation field had no potentiating effect on the antidiuretic action of general anaesthetic agents.


Ultrastructure of the developing fetal hepatocyte of Macaca arctoides: a proposed model for studies of fetal drug metabolism. The ultrastructure of the hepatocyte of the fetal stumptail monkey was examined with the aim of defining a possible model for studies of fetal drug metabolism. Hepatocytes from fetuses of 80 and 160 days gestation, as well as from one animal one week of postnatal age, were examined and compared to human fetal hepatocytes at 12 and 16 weeks gestation. Marked variation was observed in the amount of lipid and the distribution of organelles within the cytoplasm of the hepatocyte in the monkey population. These differences were attributed to genetic variation. Two changes were seen which correlated with developmental age. The amount of hemopoietic tissue decreased and the amount of smooth endoplasmic reticulum increased as the animal matured. The problems of genetic variation and the relative number of hepatocytes at different stages of development were discussed relative to the use of this animal as a model for fetal drug metabolism studies. Attention to both of these problems is considered necessary for the interpretation of biochemical data in future studies.


Hematopoiesis in the embryonic mouse spleen. II. Alterations after phenylhydrazine administration to the mothers. The effect of phenylhydrazine (PHZ) on the hematopoietic events in the embryonic spleen of C57Bl/6J mice was examined by light and electron microscopy. Following PHZ in injections to the mothers, the embryonic spleen revealed a marked increase in erythroid precursors, with a shift to mature cells. This phenomenon was part of a more generalized stimulation of erythorpoiesis, expressed by a shift to mature red cell precursors in the embryonic livers and an increase in the percentage of non-nucleated cells in the embryonic peripheral blood. Concomitantly stimulation of phagocytosis in the spleen of embryos in the early gestational days and increased vascularity were observed, and a later effect of granulocytopoietic stimulation. The effect on erythropoiesis in the embryonic spleen might be a sequence of erythropoietin stimulation, either in the mothers or the fetuses, due to anemia and hypoxia following PHZ injections.


The development of the granular convoluted duct in the rat submandibular gland. The development of the granular convoluted duct in the submandibular gland of male rats, 4 to 12 weeks of age, was investigated. During this period, the average weight of the gland increased from 213 to 526 mg, the total DNA and RNA contents doubled, and the protein content tripled. Radioautographs were prepared from Epon embedded sections of the gland of the rats given 3-H-thymidine and stained with toluidine blue. The glands of 4-week-old rats consisted mainly of acinar cells (45%), intercalated ductal cells (20%) and striated ductal cells (16%). A few granular convoluted ductal cells were seen in the striated duct close to the intercalated duct. The frequency (and absolute number) of granular convoluted ductal cells increased linearly from 1% (3 X 10-6) at four weeks to 26% (68 X 10-6) at eight weeks, while the calculated number of striated ductal cells remained stationary. The absolute number of acinar cells and intercalated ductal cells nearly doubled between four to eight weeks of age. The proliferative activity of all cell types declined with age but between six and ten weeks of age the rate of proliferation of ductal cells was relatively higher than the rate of proliferation of the acinar cells. Morphologically the size and number of granules in the granular convoluted ductal cells increased with age. Based on the above data it is concluded that the granular convoluted ductal cells developed from that segment of the striated ductal cells which is in close proximity with the intercalated ductal cells. The heterogeneity of the granules in the granular convoluted ductal cells observed from six weeks of age might denote the functional diversity of the cells.


A smooth muscle plexus associated with the aqueous outflow pathway of the rabbit eye. Smooth muscle cells were demonstrated adjacent to the aqueous outflow pathway in rabbit eyes. The cells were arranged as a discontinuous band, one to three layers thick and extended from the termination of Descemet's membrane to the ciliary body. Most of the cells were oriented with their long axes at right angles to the aqueous plexus, but many were arranged in a direction parallel to the plexus. The organization of the cells suggests that their contraction would exert a bi-directional force, and therefore, affect aqueous outflow resistance.


Mitochondrial pleiomorphism in sustentacular cells of Xenopus laevis. The mitochondrial population of sustentacular cells in the testis of the amphibian, Xenopus laevis, has been examined by electron microscopy. Three distinct types of mitochondria have been observed. The first and most common mitochondrial type is a "typical" organelle with a rod-like profile containing tubular to plate-like cristae. The second mitochondrial form is characterized externally by irregular bulbous protrusions and internally by increased numbers of tubular cristae. The third mitochondrial type, which is usually ovoid in profile, has the most unusual internal membrane configuration, consisting of pleated folds pierced by regular rows of fenestrations. Mitochondrial type one is found in all sustentacular stages, mitochondrial type two first appears in sustentacular cells surrounding early spermatids, and mitochondrial type three is observed only in sustentacular cells surrounding spermatozoa. These observations indicate that discrete subclasses of mitochondria are present in sustentacular cells of Xenopus.


Electron microscopy of the intestine of the African lungfish, Protopterus aethiopicus. Electron microscopic observations are reported on the intestine of the African lungfish, Protopterus aethiopicus. The lungfish has a spiral valve rather than a true stomach. Segments of mucosa from this area reveal, by transmission microscopy, that most cells have distinct striated borders with parallel microvilli. Fibrils within the core of the microvilli extend deeply into the cytoplasm. Microvilli on the surface of goblet cells are less regularly arranged than those of absorptive cells. Interspersed among the cells with striated borders are cells, similar in cytologic appearance except that they are covered with tufts of kinetocilia. By transmission electron microscopy, abnormal cilia having one complete complement of microtubules plus incomplete sets from other cilia which share some of the peripheral doublets of the complete cilium are enclosed by a single membrane. Cilia are usual in the intestine of many lower forms but ordinarily absent in higher vertebrates. Their functional significance in this primitive fish is unknown.


Vein size in intact and hysterectomized mice during the estrous cycle and pregnancy. The diameters of the ovarian, uterine, and femoral veins and the inferior vena cava were measured during stages of the estrous cycle in intact and hysterectomized mice and at intervals during pregnancy in mice with embryos in both uterine horns or in only the left horn. At metestrus I vein sizes were the least and were not significantly different in intact and hysterectomized mice. Ovarian and uterine veins showed the same or increased diameters at other stages of the cycle; veins enlarged progressively during pregnancy in intact mice. Non-gravid uterine horns showed little size increase as compared to gravid horns. Increases in vein diameter appeared to be correlated with local production of reproductive hormones. Evidence for transuterine migration of embryos was observed in 21 of 53 mice in which one uterine tube had been ligated or one ovary had been removed.


The fine structure of the myoneural junctions in the body wall muscles in Branchiobdella pentodonta Whit. (Annelida, Oligochaeta). The ultrastructure of the myoneural junctions in the body wall muscles has been studied in Branchiobdella pentodonta Whit. A single junctional type has been found. Within the terminal axon there are two types of vesicles, which differ in number, size and electron opacity. The junctional gap contains the basement membrane. The post-junctional membrane displays concave patches on which slender projections arising from the outer lamina of the sarcolemma extend into the junctional gap. These concave patches overlie a cytoplasmic lamina made up of electron dense material.


The implantation chamber, blastocyst and blastocyst imprint of the rat; a scanning electron microscope study. Splitting the uterus longitudinally through implanatation sites makes it possible to obtain access to blastocysts and implantation chambers during stages of implanatation of the blastocyst in the rat. On the afternoon of day 5 of pregnancy, blastocysts lie in a shallow antimesometrial depression and tend to fall free of the uterus when the chamber is opened. On day 6, blastocysts are oriented in a mesonmetrial-antimesometrial plane, occupy a distinct implantatopm chamber, and tend to adhere to one side or the other of the uterus, leaving an imprint on the contralateral side. After about noon of day 6, some of the blastocysts split in half laterally, and by day 7 all blastocysts which are exposed are split. In addition to demonstrating increased adhesion of blastocyst to uterine epithelium, the procedure clearly shows the progressive elongation of the imlantation chamber. The embrvonic cell mass is specifically oriented on day 6, and is clasped but not distorted, whereas the abembryonic trophoblast is slightly compressed and indented by the uterine epithelium. The microvilli of the uterine epithelium within the imprint become progressively flattened when compared to the microvilli of the implantation chamber outside of the imprint. The method provides a means of gaining direct access to the surface of uterine epithelium precisely where it has been in association with the blastocyst not only for scanning electron microscopy but also for studies of the properties of the surface constituents.


The development of proline-containing extracellular connective tissue fibrils by chick notochordal epithelium in vitro. Notochords were isolated from Hamburger-Hamilton stages 13-15 chick embryos by trypsinization and microdissection. These were shown by electron microscopy to be completely devoid of extracellular materials or mesenchymal contaminants. Cultivation of notochordal isolates was carried out on a non-collagenous (Falcon Plastic) substratum for 0 to 48 hours. At 12 hours of in vitro incubation, a discontinuous basal lamina could be demonstrated on the surface of notochordal cells. This was followed by the appearance of microfibrils of various sizes and other components of the extracellular matrix. By 48 hours of in vitro incubation, the same extracellular materials which surround the notochord in vivo (notochord sheath) could be demonstrated in vitro. Autoradiographic studies show that tritiated proline is taken up by notochordal cells and secreted to the extracellular space where label is associated with basal lamina, microfibrils and ground substance. When cis-hydroxyproline, a known collagen-specific inhibitor is added to the system, tritiated proline label is located primarily intracellularly and fewer areas of active fibrillogenesis are noted. This suggests that ultrastructurally recognizable materials produced by notochordal cells in vitro may be at least partially collagenous. Significantly, these materials are produced in vivo at the same time (following stage 10) that notochordal tissues actively induce somite differentiation and cartilage formation. It seems reasonable that a biochemically or ultrastructurally identifiable component of the extracellular matrix may possibly mediate such induction.


Conal contribution to the electrocardiogram of chick embryo hearts. Contraction of the conus arterisus (conus) is visibly delayed in the tubular heart of the chick embryo, and since the electromechanical coupling interval of isolated conal segment is similar to other areas of the embryonic heart, the delayed contraction of the conus indicated an impedance in the spread of the depolarization wave across the ventriculo-conal (VC) junction. A surface electrode placed on the conus of hearts obtained from the 72-hour chick embryo records a deflection, termed the C wave, appearing between the QRS complex and the T wave. To establish that the C wave arose from below the atrioventricular sulcus, atria were removed from a series of hearts from 96-hour embryos and the electrogram revealed a C wave without a P wave. The VC junction responds to digitoxin just as the atrioventricular tissue. Digitoxin prolongs the interval between the QRS and the C wave prior to a complete block in a manner analogous to the PR interval increase prior to the development of the Wenckeback phenomenon or complete atrioventricular block.  As the embryonic heart developed after 96 hours, the C wave was no longer identifiable in the ECG.


The effects of Ringer-Locke or blood infusions on the lateral intercellular spaces of the rat proximal tubule. Diuresis and natriuresis follow volume expansion by intravenous infusion of either blood or saline. However, the mechanisms underlying the renal responses seem different for the two types of expansion. It has been suggested that the response to saline expansion is due to changes in physical factors with alterations in the morphology of the lateral intercellular space (LIS). The present study examines the width of the LIS of the proximal tubule after a Ringer-Locke (1%, 2.3%, or 7% body weight) or whole blood (2.3% body weight) infusion and in nonexpanded control. After Ringer-Locke infusion, a significant widening of the LIS of the proximal tubule is seen at all levels of expansion. There is a linear relationship between the level of the Ringer-Locke infusion and the degree of expansion of the LIS. In contrast, after blood volume expansion, the width of the LIS is the same as nonexpanded controls. These studies are consistent with the view that the renal response to saline expansion is mediated at least in part by physical factors affecting the proximal tubule.


Scanning electron microscopy of a second type of supraependymal cell in the monkey third ventricle. The third ventricle of monkeys has been examined with the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Two populations of supraependymal (SE) cells were distinguished on the basis of morphology and location. One type has been previously reported (Coates, '72, '73a,b,c). Another, type 2 SE cell, is now described. Type 2 SE cells were found in the third ventricle of both sexes and in all age groups although the numbers varied highly from animal to animal. The most common site for type 2 SE cells was the floor and transition zone of the third ventricle. Visualized with SEM, these cells had variable morphology, but may be characterized by a small cell body, few non-branching processes some of which were flared and surface features such as ruffled membranes. Type 2 SE cells most likely correspond to Kolmer or epiplexus cells originally described in association with the choroid plexus. As such, they are probably phagocytes.


A region of mitochondrial division in the epithelium of the small intestine of the rat. Electron microscopic examination of samples from various regions of the rat small intestine was carried out. The number of mitochondria in the epithelial cells was estimated. The counts were made in sections of cells cut along their longitudinal central plane. The errors involved in extrapolating these counts to the whole cells were also estimated. The average mitochondrial number per cell section was 21 in the lower third of the crypts, it gradually increased in the mid and upper thirds and reached about double, 42, at the villus base. The known forms of dividing mitochondria were identified in the mid and upper third of the crypts. The counts remained around 42 along the epithelium of the villi. Crypt cells are continually produced in the lower crypt; these cells migrate to the villi while differentiating into nonproliferative absorptive cells. After inhibiting mitosis by methotrexate, this migration continued (Altmann, '74) and mitochondrial division persisted. In segments of the jejunum isolated surgically from the functional intestine for three weeks, mitosis and cell migration continued, but no evidence of mitochondrial duplication was found. Each mitochondrion probably undergoes a division as the crypt cells migrate from the mid-crypts to the villus. As a result, the villus epithelial cells contain double numbers of mitochondria. It appears that the mitochondrial division is not directly related to mitosis and is elicited by a stimulus present only in the functional intestine.


In vitro development of palatal tissues from embryonic mice. I. Differentiation of the secondary palate from 12-day mouse embryos. Single palatal processes or homotypic paired palatal processes from 12-day mouse embryos (strain C57Bl) were grown in organ culture on Millipore filters. The epithelium along the medial edge of each palatal process became disrupted, and, by 72 hours of culture, paired palatal processes achieved mesenchymal fusion at the site of disruption. The nasal epithelium of paired palatal processes became a recognizable pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium by 96 hours of culture, and the oral epithelium became a recognizable stratified squamous epithelium by 120 hours of culture. These events correspond temporally to the differentiation of palatal tissue in vivo. Differentiative changes of single palatal processes followed the same schedule as double processes. Observations also suggest that the epithelium at the tip of the vertically oriented young palatal process corresponds to the medial epithelium of the more advanced horizontal process-these observations have bearing on the mechanism of palatal movement. In addition, the results suggest that a re-evaluation of the terminology "potential for fusion" is necessary.


Prenatal development of the grey lethal mouse. I. Teeth and jaws. Osteopetrosis is a disease in which diffuse sclerosis of the entire skeleton results from an imbalance between the processes of bone formation and bone resorption. The grey lethal is the most severely affected of the three mouse mutants which have been described and its osteopetrosis is transmitted as a simple autosomal recessive gene. Affected mice develop a grey coat at 8-10 days of age and die before one month of age. Recently we (Hollinshead and Schneider, '73) reported that grey lethal mice could be identified at birth because the apex of their lower incisors lies anterior to the molar region in the mandible. In this study we show that it is possible to identify affected fetuses from day 18 of gestation using the same and other histologic criteria in examining their teeth.


Fine structure of the myotendinous junction and "terminal coupling" in the skeletal muscle of the lamprey, Lampetra japonica. The myotendinous junction in the skeletal muscle of adult lamprey Lampetra japonica was studied with an electron microscope. Numerous finger-like sarcolemmal invaginations were present at the ends of muscle fibers to form the myotendinous junction. Parietal fibers of each muscle unit showed more closely distributed sarcolemmal invaginations than central fibers. Features of the myotendinous junction generally conform to the accounts in the literature. The sarcolemmal invagination was covered on its sarcoplasmic aspect by the connecting filament layer and the dense amorphous attachment layer, and on the extracellular aspect by the intermediary layer and the external lamina with collagen fibrils arising from the myosepta. Sarcolemmal invaginations were sometimes seen to consist of a pair of sarcolemmas of adjacent muscle fibers within a muscle unit, which is characteristic to the myotendinous junction of lamprey. It is noteworthy that the connecting filament layer is much thinner than that, e. g., in the tadpole tail muscles (Nakao, '74). Furthermore, it is much thicker in the parietal fibers than in the central fibers. The sarcolemma of the terminal segment of the invagination frequently showed specific coupling with cisterns of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (terminal coupling). The external lamina is partially or completely deficient in the terminal segment of sarcolemmal invaginations which form terminal couplings so that collagen fibrils contained in the invagination appear to be in direct contact with the sarcolemma; however, definite relationships of collagen fibrils with the sarcolemma and the external lamina in the terminal segment of invagination still remain obscure. This type of coupling is considered to play a role in the coupling of excitation to contraction of muscle fibers as triads and diads.


Fine structure of mammalian renal cilia. Studies were carried out, using transmission electron microscopy, of the cilia of the nephrons of rat and human kidneys. Cilia were observed in the parietal layer of Bowman's capsule, in the proximal tubule, the distal tubule, including the macula densa, and the collecting duct. They had a number of characteristic features, including the presence of a centriole adjacent to the basal body, long, slender cross-striated rootlets, and a typically organized basal body. The shaft of the cilia differed from the typical 9 + 2 pattern of organization. Near the base of the cilia the pattern was 9 + 0. In the middle portion, one or more of the peripheral doublets had been displaced centrally to give an 8 + 1 or a 7 + 2 pattern, while towards the tip the pattern became more irregular and the doublets were reduced to single microtubules. We have hypothesized that these cilia may be vestigial. They may, if motile, have some minor stirring function, or they may play a sensory role, as has been postulated for similarly structured cilia in other sites.


Malorientation of mitotic figures in the early lens rudiment of aphakia mouse embryos. In early embryonic epithelia most cell divisions are oriented with their cleavage furrows perpendicular to the free surface of the tissue. This results in the generation of two daughter cells, which are equivalent with regard to their apical surface. Mitotic figures, in which the long axis through the centers of the chromosome plates (chromatin masses) is perpendicular to the surface, are seen only occasionally. The lens placode and early lens cup of mouse embryos homozygous for the gene aphakia show significantly greater numbers of maloriented mitoses than normal control lenses. The axis connecting the centers of the chromosomal plates is frequently perpendicular or oblique to the surface. This may result in the production of daughter cells, which are unequal as far as their position at the tissue surface is concerned. Later, the lumen of the mutant lens vesicle fills up with cells, which are apparently released from the lens epithelium. Further development of the lens and the eye is grossly disturbed. The release of these cells may be a consequence of the malorientation of their divisions, or both may be the result of a defect in the spatial organization of the lens tissue, possibly due to abnormal cellular adhesion.


The systemic arterial pattern of the guinea pig: the abdomen. The systemic arterial pattern of the guinea pig was studied to determine the arrangement of the major arterial trunks and their branches. Fiftynine specimens were examined by dissection, angiography or corrosion casting. The arterial arrangement was found to resemble a typical mammalian pattern, although some exceptions were noted. For example, the guinea pig usually has a single vessel, the celiacomesenteric trunk, instead of separate celiac and cranial mesenteric arteries. The celiac components of this vascular axis were found to originate in four different patterns. Also, the renal arteries were found to be single or double on either side with double origins more frequent.


The development of various generations of nephrons during postnatal ontogenesis in the rat. The structural development of individual nephrons has been investigated in the kidneys of young rats by microdissection. Superficial, intercortical and juxtamedullary nephrons in Wistar-Konarovice rats aged 2 to 60 days have been followed. At two and five days of age the superficial nephrons were in an early stage of anatomical development. At this time intercortical and juxtamedullary nephrons were more developed, and basically resembled similar structures in adult animals with the exception that the loops of Henle did not have a thin ascending limb. At ten days of age all three types of nephrons were differentiated with the exception that the intercortical nephrons did not possess a thin ascending limb of Henle's loop. At selected stages of development there appears to be a direct relation between the length of the superficial nephrons and the weight of the kidney. Since individual segments of these nephrons do not grow at the same proportional rate, this relationship does not hold when compared to kidney weight.


Approach and following behaviour of 24-hr old chicks as a function of stimulus complexity. In a straight runway, following or approach behaviour of day-old broiler and leghorn chicks was found to be mainly a linearly decreasing function of stimulus complexity. The patterned stimuli used were checkerboard-like matrices containing, on the average, 4, 36, 100, 400, or 900 bits of information. Preference for simpler stimuli was not found to depend upon experience in the test situation nor upon the degree of complexity of the home pen. When stimulus illuminance was varied, there was a tendency for a plain grey square (zero bits) to be preferred over the pattern containing 4 bits of information, suggesting that approach or following behaviour is energized maximally by some optimal combination of stimulus illuminance and complexity.


Affiliation and social discrimination produced by brief exposure in day-old domestic chicks. Discrimination between individual strangers and companions was examined in day-old domestic chicks. In one experiment, pecking rates at companions and strangers were observed in pairwise bouts after 16 hr of cohabitation. The discriminability of strangers and companions was varied by means of pre-hatch colouring. Reliable discriminations between individual strangers and companions emerged as early as the first minute of the encounter. Discriminative cues provided by artificial colouring were found not to be necessary in establishing social discrimination. In a second experiment, undyed chicks were housed in pairs for 1, 4 or 16 hr. Half of the pairs lived in cages that separated companions by a wire screen, and half were housed in undivided cages. Observations of pecking in four-way bouts confirmed previous findings and demonstrated that the opportunity to peck during exposure may be a necessary condition in producing social discrimination. Antecedent conditions that lead to the development of affiliative bonds simultaneously appear to establish social discrimination.


Effects of testosterone on the calling of the domestic chick in a strange environment. Testosterone affects calling in a strange environment in two independent ways. In both sexes, short calls increase in number at the expense of peeps early in the test (when they would in any case be numerous) probably as a result of an increased tendency to repeat the call which has just been given. In males only, peeps are reduced in number during established calling, as a result of the interpolation of brief periods of silence. There is no accompanying depression of escape, but the visual scanning usual during peeps is reduced. The replacement of peeps by silence and immobility may be a consequence of an increase in persistence of attention to particular stimuli.


Behavioural thermoregulation and activity patterns in the green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus. Behavioural thermoregulation and locomotory activity of green sunfish were examined in a temporal temperature-gradient apparatus. Green sunfish actively avoided temperatures exceeding 30.3 degrees C and below 26.5 degrees C and had a median preferred temperature of 28.2 degrees C. Temperature  preference did not vary significantly during the diel period even though locomotory activity patterns were markedly crepuscular. Activity was stimulated by the change in illumination levels at dawn and dusk.


Copulation in spiders: experimental evidence for fatigue effects and bilateral control of palpal insertions. Male lycosid spiders were prevented from using one palp during the first third of copulation by a sling that we then cut to free the palp. Initial insertion durations of the treated palp were significantly shorter than those shown concurrently by the much-used normal palp; they showed temporal patterning unaffected by use of the normal palp. Data indicate that there are relatively independent control mechanisms for each palp and support the hypothesis that fatigue causes the increased duration of successive palpal insertions. Our data also suggest that normal matings terminate due to maximal use of either palp by the male.


Six-month follow-up of eosinophil counts in veteran heroin addicts. Monthly eosinophil counts were taken from 40 patients while they were undergoing narcotic maintenance. The overall results indicate that there was relatively little change in the eosinophil values throughout the six-month period. This hospital found, however, that there was a positive correlation between elevated eosinophil counts and heavy illicit drug use. This seems to indicate a correlation between intravenous drug use and a high eosinophil count.


Histamine and selected antihistamine regulation of glutamate dehydrogenase and acetylcholinesterase in sheep and medulla oblongata. The effects of histamine acid phosphate and selected antihistamines, both separately and together are studied on the enzyme-substrate relationships of glutamate dehdrogenase and acetylcholinesterase of sheep liver and brain homogenates.


The uses of simple spirometry.

The uses of simple spirometry. The use of spirometry to determine pulmonary function has been complicated by the proliferation of measurements possible from the expiratory effort. Non-pulmonary physiologists face the problem of making a choice between a multiplicity of spirometric tests. Some guidelines for ventilatory testing are offered. The various uses of spirometry are indicated and those tests which best subserve these uses are suggested.


Allpyral: An appraisal.

Allpyral: An appraisal. In Allpyral the alum which has been added to the highly alkaline-pyrididium extract of non-defatted pollen absorbs only 25% of the extracted nitrogenous material, the larger quantity having been discarded with the supernanant.  Allpyral contains a relatively small amount of antigenic material compared with conventional aqueous or glycerol preparations.  Chemical studies show Allpyral to be a product resulting from an unrealized concept and a faulty method of preparation involving injudicious use of alum.


Effect of theophylline, ephedrine and their combination upon exercise-induced airway obstruction. Statisically significant protection against exercise-induced asthma followed administration of theophylline, ephedrine or their combination to 16 asthmatic children in a double-blind, cross-over study.


A two-year pollen and spore survey of Southeast Florida. A two-year pollen survey of southeast Florida revealed significant airborne pollen and spores.  Ragweed, grass, tree pollen and mold spores were identified.  Pollen and mold spores were found to be present in lower quantities than in the temperate regions but for more prolonged periods of time.


Allergy epidemiology in the St. Louis, Missouri, area: II grasses. 3219 patients for seven species of grass pollen extracts and mixtures of these grasses in the St. Louis, Missouri, metropolitan area exhibited specific levels of allergenicity to different grasses, as well as a degree of cross-reactivity among all species tested.  Adult patient reactions to these extracts generally were similar to those of the pediatric patients tested.  Mixed grass pollen preparations proved to be inadequate as a gauge of patient allergenicity to individual species.  Intersection of the prick skin testing method and the intracutaneous technique was found at specific concentrations.  For the first time phylogenetic and taxonomic conclusions regarding the grass family are supported by immunological data.


Scanning electron microscopy of the bovine, equine, porcine, and caprine uterine tube (oviduct). The luminal surface topography of bovine, equine, porcine, and caprine uterine tubes was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The main types of epithelial cells were secretory and ciliated. Both types were more active during estrus. Cilia were observed in both the infundibular and the ampular parts of the uterine tube, but ciliated cells were more numerous than secretory cells on the surface of the fimbriae. Sperm were observed in the ampulla of the uterine tube of the cow 2 hours after artificial insemination.


Effects of Mycoplasma spp, Trichomonas fetus, and Campylobacter fetus on ciliary activity of bovine uterine tube organ cultures. Microscopic observations were made of sections of normal bovine uterine tube (oviduct) and fimbriae maintained in vitro and exposed to agents known to localize in the bovine genital tract, i.e., mycoplasma, Trichomonas fetus, and Campylobacter fetus (Vibrio fetus). Only C fetus stopped ciliary activity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed loss of most cilia. Sterile filtrate of C fetus culture had no effect.


Comparisons of reactivity of pulmonary vascular and airway smooth muscle of sheep and calf to tryptamine analogues, histamine, and antigen. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) contracted the pulmonary artery, trachea, and bronchus in both cattle and sheep. Serotonin contracted the calf pulmonary vein, but it relaxed the pulmonary vein of sheep. Histamine constricted the 2 pulmonary blood vessels and trachea in calves and sheep. In contrast, histamine relaxed the ovine bronchus, but not the bronchus of the calf. Antigen (equine serum) constricted pulmonary veins from sensitized calves, but relaxed pulmonary veins from similarly sensitized sheep. Apparently, sheep are naturally more resistant than calves to both histamine and serotonin which contribute to the pulmonary inflammatory reaction.


A method for separation of bovine blood leukocytes for in vitro studies. Various methods have been developed for separation of the cellular components of blood. Size and density differences in cellular blood elements of various animal species necessitate the use of specific separative procedures. This study describes a method which combines isopycnic density-gradient centrifugation with erythrocyte aggregation as a means of isolating leukocytes from bovine blood. The procedure yields a viable population of mixed leukocytes which has proven useful for cell culture and in vitro tests of cell-mediated immunity.


Dairy calf mortality rate: characteristics of calf mortality rates in Tulare County, California. Sixteen dairy farm owners in Tulare County, California, provided data on heifer calf births and deaths. Eleven of these dairymen had maintained records on the calves before this study was done, and 5 agreed to maintain them for 6 months. Basic statistical techniques, including time series analyses and life-table methods, were used to examine the data for temporal and demographic characteristics. Overall, the calf mortality rate on the 16 farms averaged 17.3 to 20.2%. The interfarm variation in mortality rate was large, ranging from 3.7 to 32.1%. Time series studies indicated that the extent of death losses increased during midsummer (June, July, August) and midwinter (November, December, January), with mortality rates in winter months being 20% greater than those in summer. Death losses in October and March were highly variable; however, losses in October usually exceeded the yearly average; those in March did not. Also, 80% of the dairymen recorded the same relative change in mortality rate during each of 2 consecutive winters and 2 consecutive summers. The risk of death for calves was greatest in their 1st week of life on most of the farms; of all deaths in calves less than 5 weeks old, 55% occurred during the 1st week of life, and 27% occurred during the 2nd. In general, the death loss in calves between 5 weeks and 3 months old was less than 2%.


Dairy calf mortality rate: influence of management and housing factors on calf mortality rate in Tulare County, California. Data on calf mortality, calving site, calf-rearing facilities, and calf-management procedures were collected from 16 dairy farms in Tulare County, California. Discriminant analyses were used to test if any significant differences in these factors existed between farms with higher than average and farms with lower than average death losses. The average mortality rate over a period of at least 2 years on individual farms varied from a low of 3.5 +/- 1.1% to a high of 30.6 +/- 3.1%. Calf management personnel was the only factor significantly related to the mortality rate, with considerably fewer death losses on farms where the owner managed the calves than on farms where employees performed these duties. In general, other factor categories relating to size of the cow herd, calving site, and calf housing were not related significantly to calf deaths. The average number of heifer calves born each year on individual farms was increasing year by year, and on some farms, there seemed to be a concomitant increase in death losses. This, together with the tendency toward greater number of deaths on the larger owner-managed farms, indicated that calf care was diluted under these conditions.


Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteroides melaninogenicus as etiologic agents of foot rot in cattle. Fusobacterium necrophorum (Sphaerophorus necrophorus) and Bacteroides melaninogenicus were the predominant bacteria isolated from biopsy specimens of lesions in cattle affected with foot rot. Mixed inoculums of the 2 bacteria, applied to the scarified interdigital skin or inoculated intradermally into the interdigital skin of test cattle, induced typical lesions of foot rot. Both bacteria were reisolated in large numbers from the induced lesions.


Effects of organic phosphate systemic insecticides on bovine embryonic survival and development. Experiments were conducted to determine effects of 2 organic phosphate systemic insecticides on embryonic survival and possible teratogenesis in cattle. A total of 726 heifers at 3 locations were treated with either crufomate (4-tert-butyl-2-chlorophenyl methyl methylphos-phoramidate) or coumaphos (O,O-diethyl O-(3-chloro-4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran-7-yl) phosphorothioate). The compounds were administered to pregnant bovine females at various stages of gestation by pouring along the dorsal midline. None of the treatments, including those at recommended one-time doses, one-time doses at double or triple the recommended dose levels, or doses at recommended one-time dose levels repeated each day for 10 days, gave evidence of increasing embryonic death rates or of teratogenic effects. In one experiment, the crufomate compound had apparent erratic effects on serum ace5ylcholinesterase activities, but no effects on electrocardiographic patterns, heart rate, or respiration rate. Rectal palpation for pregnancy determination during the 35- to 44-day stages of pregnancy is discussed as a possible, but unsubstantiated, cause of congenital malformation of the caudal portion of the intestinal tract in 1 calf born during these studies and in other calves previously observed.


Comparison of antigenic structure and pathogenicity of bovine intestinal Chlamydia isolate with an agent of epizootic bovine abortion. A bovine fecal Chlamydia, isolated from a clinically normal cow, had pathogenic capabilities and antigenic structure similar to those of a chlamydial agent of epizootic bovine abortion (EBA). Intravenous inoculation of the fecal chlamydia into a pregnant heifer caused abortion and lesions in the fetus indistinguishable from those of experimentally induced EBA. In serotests with species-specific complement fixation antigens, the intestinal agent was similar to the EBA agent.


Age group interaction of Haemonchus contortus in premunized lambs. Lambs premunized with a relatively less pathogenic (RLP) isolate of Haemonchus contortus were challenge exposed each day with 500 3rd-stage larvae (L3) of a normally pathogenic isolate of the same worm, starting on day 9 of the premunition-induced infection. In 6-month-old lambs, there was a fourfold decrease in egg production by the premunizing RLP isolate with challenge exposure compared with egg production in lambs given only the premunizing RLP isolate and not challenge exposed. Premunized lambs were able to carry larger worm burdens with less hemoglobin loss than were nonpremunized challenge-exposed control lambs. Although challenge exposure had affected parasitic egg production by the 9-day-old premunizing RLP worms, the same young infective isolates were able to survive and protect lambs against the additional parasitism.


Transmission and attempted isolation of the etiologic agent associated with lymphofollicular hyperplasia of the canine species. From 18 donor dogs of different breeds and ages, follicular lesions of the third eyelid (plica senilunaris conjunctiva) and genitalia were surgically removed, trypsinized, and inoculated on monolayers of HeLa, rabbit kidney, and canine kidney cell cultures. Blind passages of the lesion material were made every 96 hours for 10 to 15 cell culture passages. Cellular suspensions prepared from the lesions were grown in test tubes and passaged 3 times at 10-day intervals between passages. All cultures were observed each day for cytopathic effect. Transmission studies were made by (1) inoculating normal pups with cellular suspensions of the lesions from an infected dog and an infected pup, (2) placing normal pups in contact with infected ones for contact transmission, and (3) inoculating normal animals with cell suspensions prepared from inoculated monolayers. Cytopathic changes were not seen in any of the cell culture monolayers. All transmission attempts were successful, in that characteristic lesions comparable in appearance to those seen in natural infections were produced in susceptible pups. The lesion material from an infected pup was found to be infective for a normal pup after 6 passages in tissue culture (primary rabbit kidney cells) despite absence of cytopathic effect.


Cardiopulmonary effects of fentanyl-droperidol, nitrous oxide, and atropine sulfate in dogs. The cardiopulmonary effects of droperidol-fentanyl, nitrous oxide, and atropine were evaluated in 12 adult male Beagle dogs. All dogs were surgically instrumented with a cardiac output thermistor and arterial and venous catheters and were prepared with a chronic tracheostomy. Each dog was used as its own control, and data obtained when dogs were nonanesthetized and nonmedicated were compared with data recorded after the test drugs were administered. The dogs were randomly allotted to 3 groups of 4 dogs each. Group I dogs were given droperidol-fentanyl alone intravenously (IV); group II dogs were given droperidol-fentanyl IV with 67% nitrous oxide; and group III dogs were given atropine sulfate intramuscularly followed by droperidol-fentanyl IV with 67% nitrous oxide. Minute volume was decreased in the 3 groups of dogs for 3 to 5 minutes after droperidol-fentanyl was injected. This resulted in respiratory and metabolic acidosis in all dogs, as indicated by increased arterial carbon dioxide tension, decreased pH, and increased base deficit. In addition, droperidol-fentanyl given alone caused a decrease in systolic pressure and a slight decrease in heart rate. Group 1 dogs were sensitive to auditory stimulation. Cardiovascular changes were not seen when nitrous oxide was added; however, analgesia and muscle relaxation were improved. Premedication with atropine sulfate resulted in increased cardiac output, heart rate, and diastolic pressure, and subsequent administration of droperidol-fentanyl with nitrous oxide caused a transient increase in mean arterial and systolic pressure. This last anesthetic regimen, along with assisted or controlled respiration, seems to provide an excellent anesthetic state with minimal cardiopulmonary depression.


Chronic plumbism in rabbits: a comparison of three diagnostic tests. Three groups of rabbits (A, B, and C; 6 rabbits/group) were fed a lead supplement of 25, 50, and 100 mg of Pb/kg of live weight/day for 87 days to compare the efficacies of 3 diagnostic tests--whole blood lead concentration, urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (UALA), and fluorescent erythrocyte test (FET)--and to determine the clinicopathologic changes of experimentally induced lead poisoning in rabbits. All rabbits given lead had whole-blood lead concentrations greater then the maximum value (0.030 mg/dl) for control rabbits (group D), indicating that this measurement is a reliable indicator of lead ingestion. All group A rabbits (fed 25 mg of Pb/kg) and 66% negative UALA test results, with values less than the maximum value (0.12 mg/dl) for group D (control) rabbits. Only group C rabbits (fed 100 mg of Pb/kg) had consistently positive UALA FINDINGS. The test was therefore considered unreliable for detecting daily lead intakes less than 100 mg/kg of live weight of rabbits. All rabbits given lead had erythrocytes which fluoresced red when exposed to light rays with wavelenghts from 320 to 400 nm; fluorescence was not observed in erythrocytes of control rabbits. The FET appears to be a convenient and reliable diagnostic test for lead ingestion. In groups B and C, clinical signs of lead poisoning were mild, nonpersistent anemia characterized by the presence of poikilocytes, hupochromic erythrocytes, target cells, erythroblasts, erythrocytes with punctate basophilic stippling, reduced mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations, and relative lymphocytosis, neutropenia, and eosinopenia. One rabbit from the group fed the largest dose displayed partial anorexia.


Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis viral infection of newly hatched chickens and embryonating eggs. Fewer than 25% of 12-hour-old chicks died after subcutaneous inoculation of 5 strains or intracranial inoculation of 3 strains of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus. Mortality of embryonating chicken eggs inoculated by the allantoic route decreased from approximately 75% to 35% between 9 and 18 days of incubation, although all 18-day-old embryos died after intraembryonic inoculation. Thus, neither newly hatched chicks nor chicken embryos (unless inoculated intraembryonically) would be of value in safety testing inactivated Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis viral vaccines.


Radiographic method for anatomic study of the teat canal: changes between milking periods. Radiographs of the teat canal (papillary duct) of 14 Holstein-Friesian cows were made immediately after removal of the milking machine and at 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours. The distal, middle, and proximal diameters of the canal were dilated when the machine was removed. The distal and the middle parts of the teat canal were more dilated than the proximal part of the canal. Two hours later, the canal was constricted in the 3 areas. During the next 6 hours, the canal dilated-the greatest kilation being at the proximal paet of the teat canal. The average lenght of the teat canal remained unchanged. Apparently, microorganisms can easily pass through the teat canal when it is dilated at the end of machine milking and for up to 2 hours after milking.


Effects of corticosteroids on responses of bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes cultured with phytohemagglutinin. Corticosteroids given in vivo altered the response of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of calves. Lymphocytes were cultured and stimulated in vitro with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). After an initial suppression of lymphocyte responses to PHA, there was a rapid return to normal. It is concluded that, in calves, short-term, high-dose immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids produces a population of lymphocytes resistant to corticosteroids, possibly by destruction of corticosteroid-sensitive lymphocytes.


Vascular responses in the equine digit.

Vascular responses in the equine digit. The digital circulation was isolated in 12 ponies under pentobarbital anesthesia. Blood flow was either controlled by a pump or measured under natural perfusion. The responses to rapid changes and stoppages of blood flow indicated no evidence of autoregulation or reactive hyperemia. Local administration of acetylcholine, histamine, and prostaglandins E1 and E2 decreased prevenous resistance, whereas epinephrine and serotonin caused prevenous constriction. Large doses of epinephrine and serotonin decreased venous caliber. The effects of prostaglandins A1 and F2alpha were variable. The equine digital vasculature responds to changes in flow and to vasoactive agents like the canine forelimb skin vasculature.


A chronically implantable gallbladder cannula for dogs. A gallbladder cannula suitable for chronic implantation in the dog is described. The device is simple to operate, inexpensive to construct, durable, and easy to implant. With the cannula in place, measurements of hepatic and biliary drug kinetics, as well as enterohepatic function, in the awake nonstressed animal are possible. Minimal postoperative care is required after implantation of the device.


Investigations of therapeutic measures for disophenol toxicosis in dogs. Acute disophenol toxicosis, induced in 10 dogs by giving 33, 35, or 40 mg of disophenol/kg of body weight, was treated with the antipyretic dipyrone, lactated Ringer's infusions, or ice baths. Rectal temperature and estimates of hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, and total white blood cell count and differential count were recorded. Higher hemogram values were sometimes observed for dogs dying of the toxicosis. Toxicosis was induced in 5 other dogs which were not treated; 1 of these, given the low dose of disophenol, recovered. Two of 3 dogs (67%) treated with the antipyretic recovered, 0 of 2 (0%) given lactated Ringer's infusion recovered, and 2 of 5 dogs (40%) treated with ice baths recovered. One of the surviving dogs treated with antipyretic was given the low disophenol dose and all the other survivors were given the medium disophenol dosage level.


Histologic evaluation of gallbladder in progestogen-treated bitches. Adverse histologic effects were not observed in the gallbladder mucosa of selected bitches with endometrial hyperplasia experimentally induced by administration of exogenous medroxyprogesterone acetate.


Asbestos exposure and multiple primary tumors. Recently we observed 5 patients with multiple primary tumors who also had a history of occupational asbestos exposure.  Two patients had a lung carcinoma and a colon carcinoma and 3 others had 2 distinct pulmonary carcinomas.  Most of the attending physicians were unaware of the patient's occupational risk for asbestos exposure and the resultant health hazards.  Therefore, we review the uses of asbestos and occupations at risk for asbestos exposure.


Variability of the closing volume measurement in normal subjects. The repeatablilty of the measurement of closing volume (nitrogen method) in healthy, normal subjects was investigated.  At least 7 consecutive measurements at 5-min intervals were made in each of 22 subjects.  The mean coefficient of variation for the absolute volume of phase IV was 36.1 per cent and for the percentage ratio of phase IV to vital capacity, 36.1 per cent.  Repeated measurements by the same observer of the same records on various days did not differ significantly (P greater than 0.5).  There was a significant difference (P less than 0.05) between 2 observers measuring the same records, but there was no significant difference between the two observers in the variance of the closing variability in the same subject, it may be necessary to perform several closing volume maneuvers in each subject to establish his or her range before changes in the closing volume can be interpreted.


Hyperlucent lung after radiation therapy. A 63-year-old woman was demonstrated to have a hyperlucent lung in a hemithorax irradiated 9 years previously for carcinoma of the breast.  This is the second reported concurrence of these events.


Quantitative differences in the cellular yield of two bronchial brushes. Two commercially available bronchial brushes were compared for their cellular yield.  Specimens were obtained from 45 patients and 13 dogs by tracheal brushing via bronchofiberscopy.  After extraction of the cells from the brushes, total cell count and the percentage of ciliated cells were determined in a hemacytometer.  There was a large, significant difference in the number of cells obtained by the two brushes but no difference in the percentage of ciliated cells.  Because the number of cells available for study may relate to the likelihood of making a positive cytologic diagnosis, the results suggest that bronchial brushes should be evaluated for their cellular yield.


[Strangulation of toes by hair or thread (author's transl)]. Three cases of infants with strangulation of toes by either hair or threads are reported. The potential riks of amputation and the need for a premature diagnosis and treatment are  stressed. A simple vertical, short and deep incision over the strangulation, avoiding injury to tendons and digital nerves and vessels is suggested. A complete recovery is obtained in a short period.


[Surgical management of Fallot's syndrome in young children (author's transl)]. The authors report the results in the surgical management of 232 children under two years of age suffering from syndrome of Fallot. Surgical techniques are described, and Waterston's right pulmonary artery to ascending aorta anastomosis advised. The problem of right lung overflow after this operation, its causes and prevention are commented upon. Analysis is made of indications for complete correction under extracorporeal circulation with and without deep hypothermia.


[Prolonged intubation in children (author's transl)]. 217 cases of prolonged intubation in children are described, with its manipulation and complications. They are more frequent when the reason for intubation is infection of the upper airway, in which case it should not be applied for longer than a week. It is very important to use tubes that provide an adequate airway with the smallest possible caliber.


[Pathogenic considerations in systemic lupus erythematosus D.L.E. immunohistologic studies (author's transl)]. Immunohistochemical studies in the gust, skin and kidney of a systemic lupus erythematosus patient are presented. The results suggest that there is no digestive participation in the immunologic disturbances that the vascular and glomerular depositions are independent and that antibodies are present in the dermoepidermal junction which class is different and it does not correlate with circulating antinuclear antibodies.


[Nemaline myopathy. A case report and revision of literature (author's transl)]. Two cases of nemaline myopathy, a boy and a girl, are presented. Both children show a general and facial appearance peculiar to this myopathy of which, about 38  cases have been described till now in medical literature. The diagnosis is made, by microscopic or ultramicroscopic study, which shows the characteristic rods of the disease. However, the clinical symptomatology of this syndrome is peculiar, with little muscular mass, a long face with an open mouth from which the spittle runs easily, muscular hypotony, myotatic areflexia of hyporeflexia, normal serum enzymes and E.M.G. myopathic of normal. This myopathy sometimes appears spontaneously and sometimes it is hereditary, this latter factor can be recessive or dominant with littre penetrability of the pathogenous gene.


[Physiopathology of vesicoureteral reflux (author's transl)]. In base of recent clinical, anatomical and experimental works, urodinamics and factors of antirreflux mechanisms are studied, as well as pathogenesis of its alterations in cases of primary reflux. The harmful effect of vesico ureteral reflux and its' relationship with pyelonephritis in children is also studied.


[Tumors of brain middle line. Report on 12 cases (author's transl)]. A study is made of 12 cases with median supratentorial expansive processes. Six of them were in the 3rd ventricle; two in septum pellucidum and corpus callosum; and four in the pineal and mesencephalum. They are not very frequent processes. From the clinical point of view, they present a picture of endocraneal hypertension with rapid evolution. There are also other signs of important diagnostic value, which varied according to the location. We emphasize the value of the encephalography and the angiography for diagnosis. The E.E.G. studies gave only prognostic data. The clinical course was different in every case. It was better when the tumor was extirpated with or without ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. The most severe evolution as observed in the cases who had the tumor in the posterior part of the 3rd ventricle.


[Bacteriology and serology of pyelonephritis in children (author's transl)]. A short review is made on the bacterial pathogenicity factors related with urinary-tract invasion and renal damage in pyelonephritis. Microbiological findings obtained after a revision of 14,181 quantitative cultures carried our in the last nine years on children under 7 years old are discussed. "E. coli" is implicated in almost a half of positive cultures; "K pneumoniae" seems to be specially related with urinary infections of premature and newborn infants (20-30% of the bacterial positivities in both groups). "Proteus" and "Pseudomonas" have more etiological weight in older children. True hospital epidemics of urinary infections have been non observed. As serological test, the o-agglutination of homologous strain (technique of Karmierczac et al.) was used in order to determine the site of infection. A rather close correlation between positivity of serologic test and renal involvement is showed.


[Vescio-renal reflux. Medical and surgical treatment (author's transl)]. Among 359 children with vesico-renal reflux, 191 were labeled as primary reflux. Of these, 144 had a follow up longer than 2 years. 44 children were treated medically, desapearing the reflux in 30 children (68%). 100 children (142 ureters) were operated upon with cesation of the reflux in 123 ureters (87%). The criteria for selecting the treatment and the way treatments were carried out are described.


[Management of pyelonephritis in childhood: medical treatment (author's transl)]. Authors point out worth of a rational treatment in urinary tract infections, based on the accomplishment of general standards, correction of predisposing conditions, antimicrobic treatment, long term observation and intime cooperation among Pediatric, Nephropediatric and Urologic physicians in the close surveyance of these patients.


[Decanulation of tracheostomised children (author's transl)]. It is described eight tracheostomised patients, advising an early and gradual tracheal decanulation using silver tracheostomy tube with a window in the posterior curvature (fenestrated tube, Alder Hey pattern) and proper sedation at the moment of definitive decanulation. Decanulation techniques and the mechanical and functional difficulties that can occur and how to avoid them are described: Finally the tracheostomy tubes that have been used are mentioned.


[Iniencephalus apertus. Report of a case (author's transl)]. A macro and microscopic study carried out on an iniencephalic fetus weighing 650 g. is reported. This fetus is especially interesting as it presents anencephaly, supporting the view of classifying together iniencephaly and anencephaly with retroflexion. The main malformations present were: supernumerary ectopical thymus, esophageal atresia with inferior T-E fistula (Type V of Ladd), pulmonary hypoplasia with accessory lung, transposition of the large vessels, rectal atresia, single kidney, persistence of the urogenital sinus and single umbilical artery. The possible etiopathogenic causes are discussed and an embryological interpretation of the principal malformations is given.


[Uncommon malformative association (author's transl)]. An uncommon malformative association is presented ((hydrocephalus, bilateral renal hypoplasia, aplasia cutis) associated with neonatal gastrointestinal perforation. The bibliography related with these problems is reviewed, discussing the possible relationship between them. The etiological hypothesis is infective, and pathogenic interpretation is pointed out in this context.


[Natural history of pyelonephritis (author's transl)]. Natural history of pyelonephritis is reviewed through the analysis of 971 cases of urinary infaction diagnosed and treated during the last eight years.


[Multiple mosaicism in a patient with gonadal dysgenesis (author's transl)]. A fourteen years old girl, with short height and primary amenorrhea is presented. Laparoscopic examination revealed bilateral gonadal streaks. Chromosome analysis from leukocyte culture, revealed mosaicism with a predominant cell line del 45,X and another cell lines del 46,XXX/46,X,r(X)46,X,del(X)/47,XX,r(X)47,XXdel(X)/48,XXXX.


[Ethiology and pathology of low birth weight infants in our hospital (author's transl)]. A retrospective study on 834 newborns of low birth weight, 2,500 grs., or less over a total of 19,869 live newborns during the year 1973 is presented. They are divided into low birth weight compatible with gestational age and low birth weight for gestational age when birth weight is lower than 10th percentile of Lubchenco's chart. Each of these groups is subdivided in three parts: First part refers to coincidence of frequence of different ethiologic factors or causes of low birth weight (maternal, gestational, placental and termination of pregnancy). The second part has its object in the clinical appraisal of the state at birth of these low birth weight newborns (fetal-obstetric evaluation of Velasco-Cándano, neonatal Apgar scoring, respiratory evaluation by Silvermann-Andersen and evaluation of external maturaty according to Usher). Third part of the study relates the morbility-mortality rate, need for admission, presence of congenital anomalies and autopsy findings in each of these groups of low birth weight newborns. Relation among all these estimated parameters is made presenting some conclusions reached.


[Variations in hyperbilirrubinemia in low birth weight newborns under phototherapy and continous or discontinous agar oral administration (author's transl)]. Therapeutic attitude in hyperbilirrubinemia is always worth because other infrequent complications but not for this, less important. Phototherapy innocuousness, largely demonstrated, fosters its profilactic use at beginning and not only for those babies with serum bilirrubin over 10 mg % in the first day of life. Previously we have reported positive results with agar oral administration without collateral effects. On this grounds we have planned the following experience in a homogenous group of L.B.W.: one group was fed with agar previously to each formula administration; other group received the same amount of agar but divided in only three administrations in 24 hours; the last group received continuous phototherapy for 96 hours with a white cold fluorescent light from a source of 8-Vita-lite lamp of 40 watts with a intensity of 500 foot candle and 30 lumens. All of these babies weighed less than 2.500 g. and were between 10 and 90 percentil of Lubschenko diagram. They were fed with the same formula and same time table with no infusions, rejecting all that presented any type of pathology. Obstetric conditions were basically identical. This population was randomly divided in four groups. 1) Control group with no profilaxis, but with identical bilirrubin andhematocrit determinations. 2) Group with continuous agar oral administration, 125 mg. before each of the seven formula feeding. 3) Group with discontinuous agar administration, 250 mg. before three of the seven formula feeding. 4) Group with continuous phototherapy for 96 hours. These is initial identification of the groups with statistic signification, and after that a quantitative and sequential evolution of bilirrubin is analized in each group.


[Long term follow up of low birth weight newborns (author's transl)]. Two groups of low birthweight newborns were studied prospectively; one corresponded to "small for dates" and the other, to "adequate weight for gestational age". Follow up included body measuments and ophtalmological neurological, psychometrical and electroencefalographic evaluations. At the present stage of development, it seems apparent, that newborns having adequate weight for their gestational ages perform better than the group of "small for dates".


[Influence of perinatal factors on the latter evolution of function of the nervous system in the low weight newborn infant (author's transl)]. Psychomotor follow up study of a group of low weight newborn infants, with ages in between seven months and three years. The most important perinatal data registered in the records of each baby were studied in relation with the neurological examination and electroencephalogram. The incidence of pathological perinatal factors were studied in relation with latter development, as well as with the group incidence of neuroevolutive and electroencephalogram abnormalities. The great interest of this type of study as well as the convenience of been undertaken by a real paediatrical and neurological team, so to be able to obtain best results, and improve our knowledges on this subject, remarking the importance of perinatal factors and the possible influence of these, on latter neurological maturation of the infant, as well as the ned of establishing a correct ethiological diagnosis of certain type of subnormalities and their prevention is commented.


[Role of proteins in the feeding of low birth weight infants (author's transl)]. Role of proteins in the feeding of low birth weight newborns is reviewed. After studies carried on 71 l.b.w. newborns fed with formulas from 2.75 to 5.3 grs./Kg./day of protein, several conclusions are obtained: some amino-acids no essential "per se" might have to be considered as so in the neonatal period. Under 3 grs./Kg./day biochemical findings are similar to those under malnutrition with proteic and caloric deficit. Over 3.8 grs./Kg./day hypertyrosinemias are frequent. With this offer, aminoacid indexes seem to be satisfactory, transferryn values are normal, increase in plasma proteins is significative, and renal overdosage of solutes is not high.


[Ultrastructural study of bacterial plaques from caries-free human subjects (author's transl)]. Bacterial plaques from the teeth of individuals without caries were prepared for examination under the electron microscope (Ryter and Kellenberger's fixation). Microbial polymorphism within bacterial plaques has previously been usually studied in relation to the age of the plaque. Actually, the presence of polymorphous micro-organisms and variations in microbial density observed in 48 hours old plaques, must be related to other factors. Micro-organisms of the same type, as well as bacteria  of different types which adhere together, reveal symbiosis and a competition process within the bacterial plaque, thus leading to changes in metabolism and lysis of many of the bacteria. Disturbances in bacterial cell walls; septal vesicular formation and intracellular structures are observed. Bacteriophages found in the plaques may be the cause of lysis of bacteria. Disturbances in bacterial metabolism could explain the lack of carcinogenicity of micro-organisms, and bacterial antigenic complexes which induce probably useful immunological reactions in the host are revealed by the lack of dental caries.


Isolation and identification of phenolic substances from the fungus Penicillium spinulosum. Penicillium spinulosum grown in a Czapek-Dox medium containing glucose produces two phenolic substances: 4-methyl orcinol (beta-orcinol) and 3-methyl orsellinic acid (beta-orcinolcarboxylic acid). Their isolation and identification are described. They are considered to be precursors of quinoids occuring in aged media and responsible for their red-violet colours. Preliminary results indicate that one of the quinoid compounds may be a diphenoquinone.


[Study of the inhibitory effect of acetylene on the biological methane formation in a paddy soil (author's transl)]. A 0.05 atm partial pressure of acetylene stopped all the CH4 evolution during anaerobic paddy soil incubations when different carbon substances were added. It was shown proof that acetylene did not disturbe the volatil fatty acids yielding but prohibited the methane forming bacteria from doing future use of those. Acetylene does inhibit methane forming bacteria. Besides, the growth of a Methanosarcina strain was stopped by a 0.01 atm partial pressure of acetylene, and resting cells lost 98 per cent of their activity when the acetylene concentration was 0.5 x 10-3 M in the liquid. This acetylene inhibition can be used for studying the metabolism of methane forming bacteria.


Genetic sensorineural deafness in adults. Progressive genetic sensorineural hearing loss is a common problem in adults which is frequently incorrectly diagnosed or escapes diagnosis as to etiology altogether. If the hearing problem becomes manifest in the twilight of the patient's life it is often identified with the nondescriptive term "presbycusis." In all patients with sensorineural hearing loss, extrinsic (environmental) causes should be ruled out after which intrinsic or genetic etiology should strongly be considered, recognizing that extrinsic factors can be superimposed. A group of young adults was studied and diagnosed as having genetic progressive hearing loss. Polytomography ruled out the theoretical possibility of chochlear otosclerosis. The diagnosis of this disorder tests most heavily on the history and audiometric configuration which is characteristically flat or basin shaped with fairly good discrimination. Of further diagnostic significance was the fact that some patients, early in the course of their difficulty, presented with a predominantly low- or high-frequency loss which, over time, assumed a flat audiometric shape. The most important pathological finding from human temporal bone studies was atrophy of the stria vascularis.


Operative treatment of surgical lesions with objective tinnitus. This article discusses the importance of the elevation and diagnosis of objective tinnitus (tinnitus heard by the patient and the physician). Intracranial arteriovenous communications and vascular anomalies are most frequently responsible for the tinnitus and auscultable bruits and are highly amenable to current surgical treatment. While the otolaryngologists may initially see these patients and be responsible for the diagnosis of their problem, the surgical correction of the intracranial lesions is usually the province of the neurosurgeon. Illustrative cases of extracranial causes are presented. Particular emphasis is placed on the diagnosis and treatment of venous hum. Formerly called cephalic bruit and essential objective tinnitus, venous hum is now a recognized nosological entity that is amenable to treatment by ligation of the internal jugular vein.


Present status and future development of the cochlear prosthesis. Presently devised single channel devices generate relatively primitive sensation of hearing. They provide some enhancement of communication skills for the totally deaf. Definite psychological advantages for the totally deaf have been observed. Pitch discrimination is by the mechanism of "periodicity pitch." No "place" pitch encoding is possible. The recognition of complex sounds is not possible. Multiple segments of auditory nerve must be stimulated in a manner which will stimulate the complex patterns of neural activity necessary for speech discrimination. Electrodes can be optimized and the pathophysiological consequences of electrical stimulation can be determined in experimental animals. The perceptual consequences of electrical stimulation, however, can best be determined in man himself. How much we will have to rely on known and future methods of aural rehabilitation will depend upon how well perceptual speech patterns can be generated by electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve.


Some aspects of orthopaedic surgery in childhood. The aetiological role of immunodeficiency in acute septic arthritis of the hip in infancy, the management of the condition after the acute infection has subsided, and the special hazards of infection in the region of the hip joint in the older child are discussed. The principles of treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip are examined in relation to the maintenance of acetabular growth potential. The factors determining the outcome of treatment in Perthes' disease are discussed and a comparison of the result in a series of cases treated by femoral osteotomy with those in untreated controls is presented.


Electronystagmography: a review of 17 years experience. The clinical concepts of electronystagmography (ENG) and vestibular testing are simple. They are not mysterious, complicated, nor time consuming. Every patient afflicted with dizziness deserves such a recording as part of the vestibular workup. No one would consider the evaluation of a patient with a hearing loss complete without an audiogram, and in 1975 no patient with a complaint of dysequilibrium has been properly or sufficiently evaluated without an ENG recording of balance function.


Otology and industrial hearing conservation. The Occupational Safety and Health Act is establishing limits for industrial noise exposure. The Act may also require physicians to evaluate audiograms and examine almost two million employees annually. Otolaryngologists must take special training and become certified to provide American industry with expertise in industrial hearing conservation.


Sensorineural hearing loss due to cochlear otospongiosis: theoretical considerations of etiology. Several theories have been advanced to explain the sensorineural hearing loss that occurs in patients with otospongiosis: toxic substances produced by the otospongiotic focus; vascular shunts betwen the inner ear vessels and the otospongiotic focus; and atrophy of the organ of Corti and stria vascularis due to unknown causes. Presented here is yet another theory: impingement upon the cochlear walls by the otospongiotic focus, causing a narrowing of the lumen of the cochlea and distortion of the basilar membrane.


Spontaneous perforation of the proximal colon following lung surgery. Three cases of spontaneous perforation of the proximal colon following lung surgery are reported. The caecum was the site of the lesion in two cases and transverse colon in one. Gastric inflation due to assisted artificail respiration resulting in over-distension of the colon is considered to be the cause of these complications. The treatment was by immediate laparotomy and suture of the perforation in two cases and transverse colostomy in one. All the patients made a complete recovery.


Cochlear potentials and oxygen associated with hypoxia. In the guinea pig, during general hypoxia produced by shutoff of respiratory air, oxygen-sensitive microelectrodes detect a decrease in oxygen concentration in the fluids of the tunnel of Corti before detecting a decrease in scala media oxygen concentration. The present experiments were designed to measure the cochlear microphonic (CM) potential generated by the organ of Corti when vibrated by a microprobe on the basilar membrane along with the oxygen decline in both tunnel and scala media to see upon which source of oxygen CM is dependent. Because oxygen concentration in both areas can decrease considerably before CM is affected, the recovery following a brief period of hypoxia is a more accurate measure. Because CM starts a recovery before scala media oxygen, the positive endolymphatic potential (EP) was also measured to determine its role in the generation of CM. Our interpretation of the course of events is that CM is partially dependent upon oxygen supplied to the extracellular spaces of the organ of Corti by the spiral vessels and upon EP that, itself, is dependent upon several factors. The data indicate that EP plays a more complex role than that of providing a current flow for modulation by a resistance varying with vibration.


Pulmonary sequestration.

Pulmonary sequestration. 31 surgically treated cases of pulmonary sequestration are reported. There were 23 of intralobar and 8 of extralobar type, 23 were on the left and 8 on the right. All but three had symptoms most of them pointing to a respiratory tract infection. Six patients had pneumonia, five haemoptyses, three patients pleurisy and two patients empyema before the operation. In addition to chest x-ray, aortogram appeared to be the most valuable tool in providing the accurate diagnosis preoperatively. Most of the cases were treated by lobectomy, in 7 cases by sequestrectomy and in 2 cases by pneumonectomy. One of the patients died from pulmonary infarction due to anomalous ipsilateral pulmonary venous draingae and ligation of the veins by oversight during right lower lobectomy. The rest of the patients recovered uneventfully. On microscopical examination of the specimens a case of aspergillosis was noted, which has not been described previously in the literature in association of pulmonary sequestration. In one case acid-fast bacteria were found in the necrotic mass of the cavities in the sequestration.


Conference on animal models of aging in the auditory system. A conference was held to consider conceptual issues, methodological problems and preliminary findings related to auditory research with aging animals. Current concepts from various areas of experimental gerontology were discussed in relation to research on the aging auditory system and to the problem of human presbycusis.


Pulmonary sequestration associated with tuberculosis, aspergillosis and pseudomycosis. Three cases of pulmonary sequestrations are reported, one associated with tuberculosis, another with aspergillosis and a third cases associated with pseudomycosis (bothryomycosis). All the patients had a localized infection. They were treated surgically and had an uneventful recovery from their disease.


Conservative management of Méniére's disease: Furstenberg regimen revisited. This study reviews twenty years' experience at the University of Michigan with 500 consectutive patients suffering from symptoms of Méniére's disease. An especially strong tradition of medical therapy of Méniére's disease has prevailed at the University of Michigan because of the influence of Albert C. Furstenberg, who developed and promoted the Furstenberg regimen of a low-sodium diet and diuretics. It has been our distinct clinical impression over the years that the Furstenberg regimen has been quite satisfactory in relieving the most disturbing symptoms of Méniére's disease in the vast majority of cases and often in patients who have failed other treatment programs. This study quantifies, as much as possible, our extensive experience with this disease and confirms for us the efficacy of this treatment. Relatively few operative procedures have had to be performed for conservative treatment failures in our hands. The success of this conservative management program has been largely dependent upon the strict adherence by the patient to a professionally prescribed, low-sodium diet. Occasional patients with chronic symptoms which are refractory to medical management continue to be a problem, particularly since it is in this group of patients that bilateral involvement tends to ultimately occur.


Diaphragmatic pulmonary sequestration.

Diaphragmatic pulmonary sequestration. Two cases of diaphragmatic extralobar pulmonary sequestrations are described. One of them simulated a suprarenal tumour and the other was associated with a diaphragmatic hernia. Both of them were firmly attached to the left hemidiaphragm and were partly located within it. They had an arterial supply from the abdominal aorta. Both sequestrations were treated surgically by sequesterectomy. The patients had an uneventful recovery.


Congenital partial absence of the left pericardium. A 38 year old woman with congenital partial absence of the left pericardium is presented. The condition is fairly rare, usually diagnosed incidentally during intrathoracic operations or at autopsy. Eleven operatively corrected cases are reported in the literature. The present case was admitted because of transient attacks of chest pain, palpitation and dyspnoea. These attacks were brought on when she lay on her left side and were promptly relieved by a change of position. The chest radiograph revealed a prominence of the superior aspect of the left heart border and a slight laevo-position of the heart. A diagnostic pneumothorax on the left side confirmed the diagnosis of a pericardial defect. The defect was repaired by pericardioplasty. Operative correction of a partial left pericardial defect is indicated because of the danger of luxation of the heart out of the pericardium and sudden death. This has been reported, as well as a death caused by spreading of infection from the pleural cavity into the pericardium and heart.


Spontaneous mediastinal emphysema: hamman's syndrome. A case of spontaneous mediastinal emphysema (Hamman's syndrome) is described. The patient was a 21-year-old man, who had a sudden onset of substernal chest pain at rest associated with typical findings of Hamman's syndrome: subcutaneous emphysema of the neck, a precordial crunching sound synchronous with the heart beat and air in the mediastinum on chest x-ray. He recovered uneventfully. The pathogenesis and clinical picture of this rare condition are discussed.


Pulmonary tumourlets.

Pulmonary tumourlets. Tumourlets are small benign proliferations of epithelial cells in the lung parenchyma. They are induced by fibrotic changes of the lung, most often by bronchiectasis. Four patients with pulmonary tumourlets are presented. The patients were from 22 to 46 years old, and three of them were female. All were known to have had bronchiectasis for many years. The tumourlets were found incidentally during microscopical study of operation specimens. In three instances multiple tumourlets were found. No signs of malignant behaviour were observed.


Ulcer simulating gastric carcinoma. I. Diagnostic considerations and treatment. Small ulcer-simulating carcinomas accounted for 3.9% (48 cases) of the 1324 patients with carcinoma of the stomach treated at the Second Department of Surgery, University Centtive of a malignant ulcer in 52% of the cases whereas gastroscopy combined with exfoliative gastric cytology gave 73% correct results. In spite of preoperative suspicion of malignancy most patients were operated on as for a benign ulcer. Partial distal gastrectomy without splenectomy was performed in 93% of the patients. There was no hospital mortality. The 5-year survival rate by the actuarial method was 63%.


Urinary oestriol and serum activities of human placental lactogen and heat stable alkaline phosphatase as indicators of fetoplacental function. The accuracy of urinary oestriol and serum levels of human placental lactogen (HPL) and heat stable alkaline phosphatase (HSAP) as indicators of feto-placental function was studied in 76 patients with high risk pregnancy. Feto-placental dysfunction was predicted correctly by plasma HPL in 80%, by urinary oestriol in 70%, by serum HSAP in 47%, and by the complementary use of HPL and oestriol in 90% of the cases. Normal fetoplacental function was predicted correctly by plasma HPL in 94%, by urinary oestriol in 96%, by serum HSAP in 80%, and by the complementary use of oestril and HPL in 100% of the patients. The probability of feto-placental dysfunction with a pathological value was 88% with urinary oestriol, 84% with plasma HPL and 100% with the parallel use of oestriol and HPL. A normal value assured undisturbed feto-placental function in 89% with urinary oestriol, in 92% with plasma HPL and in 96% with the parallel use of oestriol and HPL.


Normal left echoventriculography.

Normal left echoventriculography. This paper details a new diagnostic ultrasound technique. The heart is scanned from several precordial positions so that regional function of the entire left ventricle is seen, as well as measuring the left ventricular dimensions and performance conventionally. This is called echoventriculography. It permits a quantitative "global scan" of the left ventricular function. It is based on 2:1 magnification, and careful adjustment of probe positions and gain and reject levels, particularly in recording the anterior wall segments. Four basic echobeam directions are defined to detect local wall motion patterns from 8 regions of the left ventricle, ie. on the upper and lower halves of the posterior, anterior, septal and lateral walls. 42 healthy subjects, 19 sedentary men, 14 physically well-trained men and 9 women were studied. Complete echoventriculographic scanning was achieved in 91%. The posterior wall motion was greater than that of the anterior. The regional wall velocities, amplitudes and wall thicknesses cross-correlated with each other. The interventricular septal motion was paradoxical or akinetic in over half of the well-trained men. Otherwise, the general contraction mode assessed from the different regions together was always synergic. Left ventricular dimensions and pump function were also separately analyzed in the above subgroups of healthy subjects.


Blood pressure in adult Lapps and Skolts. Casual blood pressures were recorded in 331 Lapps and 221 Skolts over the age of 20. The systolic pressure was found to rise more with age in women than in men. In neither sex did age affect the diastolic pressure. A general tendency towards higher blood pressure in Lapps than in Skolts was noted up to the age of 50-60 years. Comparison with a Finnish population and one from the Aland Islands revealed similar systolic blood pressures in females, but definitely lower values in male Lapps and Skolts. The Lapps and Skolts did not have the clear age dependence of the diastolic blood pressure as occurs in Finns. These findings, together with other population studies, support the hypothesis that the setting of the resting blood pressure level is influenced by different kinds of stress associated with technological development and with an urbanized way of life.


Vascular pattern in ileal Crohn's disease. Angio-, histo- and microangiographic studies were performed on five operative specimens of chronic regional enteritis affecting the ileum. In every patient the vascular pattern differed greatly from that seen in normal ileum and the changes were similar in each investigation. The number of long vasa recta and short vasa recta were increased, but the hypereaemic reaction was limited to the submucosa and mucosa. The long vasa recta arising from the marginal artery arcades were three to five times as close together in the affected regions as normally but their calibre was smaller than normal. The vessels were evenly spaced and ran without variation in their calibre up to the antimesenteric border of the gut. The thicker the mesentery, the wider the angle where the long vasa recta divided to form an anterior and a posterior branch. When the wrapping phenomen occurred this angle exceeded 90 degrees. The short vasa recta branching from the long vasa recta formed a very thin vascular network and thus the affected part of the gut could be easily distinguished from the normal ileum. The vascular changes were limited to the regions that were macroscopically abnormal. The arteries were well organized, but in the most severe cases where the architecture of the gut was destroyed the vascular pattern was also confused. The vascular pattern differed from that seen in malignant disease in two respects: there were no clear changes in the vascular calibres even in the most severe cases and no evidence of open arteriovenous shunts. The vascular changes were regarded as secondary to the fibrotic reaction in chronic regional enteritis and accurately reflected the severity of this reaction.


Studies of rectal mucosal catecholamines in ulcerative colitis. Rectal mucosal biopsies from six patients suffering from ulcerative colitis were studied by estimating the catecholamine (CA) content and by fluorescence microscopy. Adrenergic nerve fibres were relatively scanty both in diseased and control patients. The adrenergic structures seem well preserved in the affected areas of the colon, although the nonspecific collagenous autofluorescence makes interpretation difficult. There was a significant rise in the noradrenaline (NA) content compared with the seven control patients (p smaller than 0.01). This may be a compensatory phenomenon to inhibit increased intestinal motility. The increased NA level may be due to the intense perivascular adrenergic plexus typical for ulcerative colitis. In both groups there were varying amounts of fluorescing enterochromaffin cells probably without relation to the diagnosis.


Drug absorption in patients with T-tube after cholecystectomy. The influence of bile flow on the absorption of tetracycline, doxycycline, sulphadimidine and cycloserine was studied in 13 volunteer patients with t-tubes in their main bile ducts after biliary surgery. Their hepatic functions and bile flows were estimated by giving I131 radioiodinated rose-bengal intravenously. About 80% radioactive tracer was recovered from the bile when the t-tube was open, so most of the bile was diverted outside the intestinal tract. Up to 4 hours after administration serum tetracycline levels were lower when the t-tube was open than when the t-tube was closed. In one patient the serum levels were so much reduced that therapeutic serum tetracycline levels could not be achieved. The serum doxycycline levels were fairly high and bile flow did not have any effect on absorption. The 24-hour biliary excretion of doxycycline was only about 15% of the urinary excretion. The absorption of sulphadimidine and cycloserine was not affected by the presence or absence of bile. The bile salts are important surfactants in man, and modify the absorption rate of tetracycline, but not of doxycycline, sulphadimidine and cycloserine. Even in the absence of intact bile flow therapeutic serum tetracycline levels can be expected with the doses currently used.


Complete respiratory paralysis caused by a large dose of streptomycin and its treatment with calcium chloride. Several cases have been reported, in which a rather large dose of streptomycin given intraperitoneally at operation has produced respiratory paralysis. In these cases the treatment has usually consisted of respirator ventilation and administration of atropine and neostigmine. In animal experiments, in which a cessation of breathing has been produced, calcium salts have produced quick recovery. The authors present a case, in which appendicetomy was performed on a 10-year-old girl for a perforated appendix at the end of which, an overdose of intraperitoneal streptomycin was given, followed 10 minutes later by complete cessation of breathing. The patient had to be intubated again and put into a respirator. Neostigmine and atropine were used without noticeable effect. One and a half hours after the breathing had stopped 0.6 g calcium chloride was given intravenously and the girl recovered immediately and completely.


Concentration of cephalexin in maxillary sinus mucosa and secretion. Twenty patients hospitalized for unilateral or bilateral sinus surgery were given 500 mg or 15 mg/kg body weight of cephalexin by mouth two hours before operation. Samples of serum, sinus mucosa and secretion for cephalexin concentrations were taken during operation. There was a large variation in the mucosal and secretion concentrations and no definite correlation with serum levels. Drug levels effective against most gram-positive cocci were usually found in the mucosa. The mucosal concentrations were much larger than those in the secretion. There were no noteworthy differences between the patients with purulent infection and those in whom the infection was quiescent.


Studies on antibody response after implantation of Fibrin Bioplast preparations. The authors implanted Fibrin Bioplast into the subcutaneous connective tissue, peritoneal cavity, and medullary cavity of tubular bones and into bone deficiencies produced by drilling of 22 rabbits, 38 guinea-pigs and 14 dogs. Immunodiffusion, passive haemagglutination and anaphylactic studies were performed and the delayed hypersensitivity reaction of the tuberculin type examined. Properly heat treated Fibrin Bioplast offered the least danger to the host organism.


Evaluation of the modified broth-disk method for determining antibiotic susceptibilities of anaerobic bacteria. A total of 110 strains of anaerobic bacteria including 9 different genera was tested for antibiotic susceptibility by the modified broth-disk method of Wilkins and Thiel (1973), using prereduced media and the VPI anaerobic culture system. Results were compared with those obtained with an agar dilution technique with incubation in a GasPak jar. There was greater than 95% agreement between the two methods with ampicillin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, and clindamycin, and 90% or greater agreement with erythromycin, penicillin, and tetracycline.


Comparative chemotherapeutic activity of amphotericin B and amphotericine B methy ester. The comparative efficacy of amphotericin B and amphotericin B methyl ester (AME) against experimental histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, cryptococcosis, and candidosis in mice was assessed by determining the effect of daily intraperitoneal therapy on 21-day survival and persistence of organisms in internal organs. AME, like amphotericin B, was effective against each of the experimental infections, but the efficacy was lower than the parent compound. For Histoplasma and Blastomyces infections the mean effective dose (ED(50)) of amphotericin B was 0.3 mg/kg, whereas the corresponding values for AME, respectively, were 2.4 and 2.8 mg/kg. For Cryptococcus infection the ED(50) for amphotericin B was 0.2 mg/kg compared with 2.0 mg/kg for AME. The ED(50) of amphotericin B for Candida infection was lower than 0.05 mg/kg and the value of AME was between 0.5 to 0.05 mg/kg. The colony counts from internal organs of the surviving animals after the therapeutic regimens were compatible with the data on survival.